Police connect hit-and-run to OWI arrest

Crash victim narrowly escaped serious injury, police say

Madison police say a man arrested on suspicion of fifth offense operating while intoxicated was responsible for a hit-and-run crash Sunday.

Officers responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint and a hit-and-run crash both on the city's near south side after 1 a.m.

No one was injured in the hit-and-run crash at Drake Street and South Brooks Street, but police said the victim's vehicle was completely spun around and the 43-year-old Madison man narrowly escaped what could have been more serious injuries.

Police said the officer responding to the suspicious vehicle a few blocks away from the crash at 800 S. Brooks St. found it had significant front end damage, driver's side airbags deployed, and continuously honking its horn and flashing its headlights. The officer said Michael J. Muldoon, 26, smelled of alcohol, but denied that he had been drinking or driving. He also told police he didn't know anything about the hit-and-run crash.

Muldoon took field sobriety tests and was arrested on suspicion of fifth-offense OWI, operating with prohibited alcohol content, operating while revoked, hit-and-run and a stop sign violation. Police said Muldoon had a blood alcohol content of 0.22.